US1109615A - Telephone-exchange system. - Google Patents

Description

E. E'. CLEMENT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM-I l APPLICATION FILED SEPT. Z1, 1905.

1,109,615, Pateted Sept. 1, 1914.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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E, E. CLEMENT. 4 TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. APPLIOATON FILED SEPT.21, 1905. 1,109,615 4 i' Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

a slings-SHEET 2.

E. E. CLEMENT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1905.

- Patented Sept. 1

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

`WYTNESSES VUNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT, lor WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0E COLUMBIA, AsSIGNoR, RY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To FREDERICK C. STEVENS, 0E ATTICA, NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM. v

To all 'whom it may concern Beit l-:nown that I, EDWARD E. CLEMENT, a citir/.en of the United States, residinrr at VashIngton, in the District of Colunibia, have invented certain `new and useful Im.- irovements in Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following a Specification, reference being had therein to the accoi'npanying drawing.

My invention relates to telephone eX- change systems, and has for its object the improvement of such sir-'stems by the use of what I terni semi-automatic connections, vthat isthose in which automatic switches are used as auxiliaries to supplement the'work of the operator. ploy these auxiliary mechanisms in two relations: The lirstset of mechanisms lie between the operator and the calling subscriber, and the second set of mechanisms I interpose between the 'saine operator and the wanted subscriber. l

The progress of a. connection is as follows: The calling subscriber byA simply removing his receiver from the hook selects an idle answering terminal somewhere on the' board, and thereby gets immediate attention, jThe' operator before whom the selected terminal and its associated signal are loca-ted, answers the Galland ascertains the number wanted. She then switches the callinglline to a trunk leading to an automatic switch in whose banks the terminals of the wanted line are located',` and by means of a sender associated with hei` telephone set, shenvorks-the automatic switch to'eomp'lete the connection. In other words,^by uniformly. distributing the load I economize the operators -time and work them at maximum eliieiency all the; time, and I do away with the multiple in an ordinary switchboarrh substituting trunks."l

The appearance of the switchboard is very simple,- each operato-1' handling from three` to 'five times as many 4lines as heretofore pdssible. lVlthfitty answering-Jacks, and from 25 to 50 pairs of plugs, the. operatorhas anequal number of trunk-jacks. The percentage of selective switches tothe number of lines is about ten, so that with fifty switches the operator should average 500 lines. This, however, is probably a maximum, although with uniform distribution Ait is entirely within reason. V My invention is illustrated inthe accom-` panying drawings wherein:

Specification of Letters Patent.

In the present case I em! Patented sept. 1,1914.

Application led September 21, 1905. Serial No. 279,481.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a subsc ibers sub-station, a central station with a rotating selective device and also-a connective circuit equipped with a sender. Fig. 2 is a similar diagram showing a trunk jack terminating in'a connector switch and a` subscribers sub-station with central oflice equipnient. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the primary selector switch. Fig. 4 is a skeleton diagram showing linev multiples and. the distribution ofcalls. l. I

Referring to Fig. l, I will first describe the selector switch and its operation and will -then describe the'circnit by which it isoperated.

The vselector I hate shown comprises a constantly driven shaft X with al collar carrying the arm X which in turn carries the contacts or wiper springs @as and m9 which are constantly sweeping over the circularly varranged series of coperating contacts.

The wiper .TR sweeps over a continuous ring :1:7 while the wiper ai sweeps over a series of contacts leading to different lines. The shaft inthe present case is shown as being driven by agbelt L and a pulley L', but it will'be understood that the driving means may be' of Aany suitable description. The several. selectors are all driven by preference from the saine shaft so as to secure not only economy of power and transmission, but perfect uniformity in speeds of the Selector arms which may be swept over multiple contacts of the same line.

An individual selector mechanism such as I have shown at X comprises ay sleeve or collar m1 mounted loosely on the shaft and held lin position by the two collars x and :1:12 which are securely fastened to the shaft X. The movable collar ,m10 is fitted with a projecting tubular arm preferably of copper' .or brass which carries the windings .1',3 andfc upon it and the combination core or plunger w15 within it, the arm thus :constituting in effect a solenoid with a plunger core.

,The windings are held in place by the two spools ai and m50.. On the front spool end is fastened a case mfwhich contains the coil spring m19 by which the plunger is normally kept retracted toward the shaft as shown in the figure. The function of this plunger is two-fold. In the normal or idle condition of the parts it serves as la locking detent or clutchlto hold Ythe arm fast on the Shaft. its ends projecting at the same time coA into an opening or socket in the shaft as indicated at When the arm is opposite the calling line terminal Vthe plunger' is thrown forward and its outer end enters the jack ring w79, the inner end at thesame time leaving its socket in the shaftthus starting the arm and spreading the jacku springs to. form the necessary connections. The inner end of the lungerl is of soft iron with a hard tip iP necessary. Its outer end 'is of insulating material such as hard wood or liber. The winding of the magnet is double consisting of an inner and outer layer. like the primary and secondary oi' an induction coil. Onefterininal of the outer winding is connected to the wiper w8, the

' other terminal of the coilbeing grounded'.J

One terminal of the inner winding is connected to the wiper ze", the other terminal being grounded. Of course these two windings of the solenoids may be placed on the tube or sleeve in any desired fashion. The

only requirement is that either winding when energized shall be able to pull in the core w15. i

The contacts or jack springs are built up in layers such as shown in the section, Fig.

1, and are arranged in a circle so that the wipers of the solenoid in rotating always rest on some contact. All the lines in a certain position terminate in individual con-' tacts and are multiplied in the banks of the switches of'its position. There is a certain percentage of these switches toeach position in theexchange, usually about 10%, and

instead of each line terminating in an an'- swering jack it terminates in multiplied contacts of al group of these switches and these switches in turn pick out the line and connect it to a trunk jack with a signal asso-V ciatedwith it in front of an operator.

Having 'now described the operation of the 'selector switches or solenolds we will now` take up the description of the circuits :by which they are controlled: In Fig. l the subscribers station shown' at A is equipped y withA apparatus usually found in common battery installations consisting of transmitter T, receiver R, hook H, ringers Q, condensers C. The lines from this station terminate in a line relay M to the normally closed contacts of the cut-oli relay N. `When the relay N is energized the line relay is group of switches through the vextensions 5 and 6 respectively.' lilach line in A addition to having` multiple' contacts in the banks' of the 'select'or switches 'also vhas multiple contacts in the banks of connector switches for outgoing calls, from the central office to the substations.. These connector switches terminate im multiple trunk jacks in front' of therdierent operators. 1n a group of selector-switches the switch arm, there will be ten momentary' contacts eiected with the line during one second. By this arrangement the time consumed in answering a call by picking out the calling line, is made of very short duration. This general arrangement is shown in skeleton form in Fig. 4. The line from subscribers station A is carried to c0rre.

spending multiple contacts in the banks 4of l0 primary selectors marked trom X0 to 9X", giving l() answering multiples, and also to corresponding multiples in the banks of a number of selector switches indicated at Z0, lZo and QZ". Another line 1A is shown similarly connected,.the subscribers stationA for convenience beinfr indicated upon the opposite side of the gure. It will be ob-` served that the switch arms of the several primary selector switches are arranged helically, or angularly spaced apartl around the common driving shaft. Since each line is multiplied to vertical recurring or correspending contacts in the several banks, it follows that as all the arms sweep around in unison only one of them will touch a Contact on the sameline at any given instant, but in the course of a single revolution of theishaft, each of them will have passed over the contact of that line in its own bank, the 10 arms thus making 10 test contacts on the same? line in a single revolution.

The front contact of the relay M'is connected to thecont'act in the bank/of the switch X and also to the multiple contacts in the other switches of the same group.

The, trunk wires 9 and 10 are connected to the Vbus contacts :cs 'and me respectively. These contacts are common to every pair of line springs.A in thejbank so that when the plunger oli the solenoid is'ope'rated any line vin the bank can be connected to the trunk wires 9 and 1 0. The contact c1-is connected yto the signal lamps through the contacts j'and jz c. the jack J and also to thenormally vopenedcontact p30 or" the relay P3. The relay P3 controls the solenoid magnet after the line relay has been disconnected. Thetrunk wires 9 and '10 terminate in the springs j and j of the 'ack'l The cord or connective circuit con sts of the answering plu P and calling plug 'F5 with their tips an sleeves respectively con-v nected by the strand 20, condenser C, strand vibi @of-switch known as the Strowger type. 'In .1 pla-cel of the'ordinary back release relays .moment bri ged :battery urnishing talking current for the calling subscriber. The third -.con

. ductor p2 of the plug sP is fconnectedto the 'nominally open 'Contact s1.of .the -relay S.

This third conductor p2 when placedl in l'the jack J enghgestheithimble er ring j", which is )connected tofone terminal 'of the relay Pa and alsojto the spring i4. This spring normally engages the spring j connected to the sleeve side vof the trunk. kThe 4sender or transmitting device is connected Yto the tip and sleeve fotthecalling plug and is represented diagrammatically :by thecams K and K. -When the cam K is operated ground impulses aresentfoverfthe tip or vertical side of `the `trunkoperating the vertical relay in the connector switch, Fig. 2, which in turn performs other functions. The' cam K when operated sends impulses over the sleeve or rotary side of the trunk operating the rotary relay S3 which in turn controls the private Irelay side switches and tests, etc., in the connector switch. When both cams K and K are operated simultaneously,

impulses are sent in over the vertical and rotary sides of the trunk eecting the release of the switch as will be described'later.

lReferring now to Fig. 2 the connector switch here shown diagrammatically can be of any-standard form that will respond to impulses over both sides of the line. For illustration I have used the Well known form itthich are v'connected to the called end of the thunk .lnfthe switch I have connected two retardation coils I and I with bridged batv Ifurnishing' talking current for the subscriber, and instead of connecting `('fhe'release magnet W `to the test wiper 'through the-side switch e6 I have connected l 'to thet-ip -or vertical wiper a. This relay a'sensitive relay W 'through this side switch W. controlstherelease magnet W. I have dis ensed with the ordinary third wiper viihiph in the Strowgerl system is used for I-.testln-gLas I now test directly from the tip 'or' vertical side of lthel'line. The principal .par-ts of this switch are the spindle Z, carrythe wipers a andl z2 which are insulated `ll'frorn one another. On the spindle Z there is a ratchet with circular teeth engaged. by

'tli'e Eawl controlled by the vertical magnet t is magnet being operated by the vertical relay S2 when the'side switches a3, c4,

a, and c are Aresting on .the first contact. These side switches are operated mechanically 'by thevprivate r'elay .P after it first .becomes energized and then denergized.

The energizing and denergizing of'this re laymove the side switches gne step. The circuit ofth-is relay -is controlled by the roplug the relays S and S lare connected with;

tary `relay 'Ss which responds -to impulses over the .rotary vside 'of lthe line. On the spindle Z Ithere is another ratchet with long teeth which when engaged by the `pawl controlled by the rotary 'magnet V .causes 'the spindle .to rotate andthe wipers a and z2 to pass over the contacts in the bank. The rotary magnet Vis controlled by =the ver- .tical relay S2 after 'the side switches move from the first to the second position. The ringing relay 'Y is also controlled yby the relay S2 after the side switches have moved the second time. This relay when energized disconnects the calling end of the trunk and places generator current on the. called-end thus supplying current for ringing the called subscribers bell.

The apparatus shown at the substation A is identical with that lof A, and the central yolice equipment for the lines from both substations is the same', hence its description need not be repeated. The operation of my system is as follows: The subscriber at station A desiring to make a call removes his receiver from the hook which closes thecircuit of the 'line relay M through the normally closed contacts on the cut-oill relay N.

The relay M becoming energized attracts its armature and places battery on the multiple test contacts of the switches in whichA its line is multiplied. The circuit of one of the rotating solenoids in passing over this contact' is closed by the following path:

battery B, 12,711., m', 13, through one I of the windings of the solenoid to ground. -This solenoid-becoming energized the plun- V ger m15 springs forward into theopening of the jack :en and spreads the contacts m5 and fr connecting a line to the trunk wires 9 and 10 respectively. nection is completed the circuit of the relay N is closed by the following path: battery As soon as this con- B, winding of the relay P3, 8, ,7"1, j', '10, x6

w3, 6, N, to ground. The relay N becoming energized disconnects the line relay M and connects the line wires 1 and 2 to the trunk wires 9 and `10 through the extensions 5 and- 6 respectively. The relay M being disconnected removes battery from the test conitact x but the solenoid is held enero'ized through the winding by the following path:

battery B, 15, p10, p3", 11, a, w8 through :the winding to ground. The relay` P3 becomes energized at the same instant the re- `lay M is disconnected thereby holding'the solenoid X energized and at the same time closes the circuit of the lamp by the following Pthi B9 15 pm p30: 117 14a .7.21 125 8a to ground. rlhe operator perceiving this lamp glowing inserts Vthe plug P into the .jack J opening .the contacts jg and ja extin-v guishing the lamp s. The contacts j and j are also ldisconnected removing the relay P? l:from trunk wire 10. This relay Vnow instead i 'fof being held energized through the'windV ing of the relay N has its circuit closed by the following path: ground s, 8.10, 2, j', 8, P to battery B. Relays S and g' are held up by current through the subscribers line as follows: battery B, relay S225, 2l, p, j, 10, w3, 6, 2, sub-station telephone, l, 5, :122, m5 9,'31'3, p, 20, 26, Sand ground. There is an additional current flow from the battery through relay S to Ground through the cut ofi' relay N, which'maintains the line connected to its extensions 5 and 6. The circuit .of the relay N remains closed in series with the relay S until the plug is removed. The operator throwing forward her listening key asks for the number desiredand instead of placing the calling plug in the multiple jack leading directly to the party desired, she places the calling plug P into the trunk jack J not busy and leading to the connectorv switch containing the contacts of the line wanted. Having made this connection' she loperates the cam K a number of times responding to the tens numeral of the desired line. Referring now to Fig.

Zthese impulses coming in over the vertical side of the trunk operate the relay S2 which -inturn closes the circuit of the vertical mag net .V by the following path: ground, S7, s", 43, p4, p3, 37, es, 46, o, 48, 44,`to battery B.

This magnet operating a number of timesI corresponding to the number ofV impulsesV causes the spindle Z to step up vertically bringing the wipers z and 22 op'positethe. row. containing the contacts of the desired line. After sending this set of impulses she operates the cam K ysending an impulse overthe rotary side of the'line operating thewrelay. S3 which in turn vcloses the circuitl of the private relay P10 by the follow,-v

ing path: ground, si, ss, P10, 42, to battery B.,- Thisl relay in Hturn opens the contacts i pf and pztdisconnects the Vertical magnet vertical' movement.

come in and the relay P10 become dener- V preventing the spindle from making a After the impulses gized the side switches make one step. In

, the switch e3 the vertical magnet V is .dis-

connected and the rotary magnet V is cpr;- nected in its place. In the switch a the test relay W is now in position for testing". The

v operator now manipulates the cam K '"endtrunk corresponding to the' unit numeral of.

ing impulses over the vvertical side of,z` the the linedesired operating the relay S2, which in turn now4 closes the circuit of the rotary magnet V by the following path: gro"nd, Si, s, 722, p23, 37, e3, 45, V, 48, 44,

n to battery B. This magnet operating causes the spindle Z to rotate and the wipers e and .e2 to rest on the contacts of the desired line. She now operates the cam K' sending van impulse over the rotary side of the line operating the relay S3 which closes the circuit of the relay P and connects the test relay `W to.l the tip side of the line by the following path: battery B, lV, 52, ps, p5,

36, a, 53, z', to el. l If thex called line was busy the Contact ,27 would be grounded through the retardation coil I of some other switch and the relay 'W would become energized closing the circuit of the release magnet and restoring the switch to its normal or idle position. Taking it for granted that the line called for is not busy, that is, no ground is found 'on the contact 27 the relay IV is not effected. After the rotary impulses come in the relay P10 becomes de nergized and the sideswitches `move to the last position'. In the switch s the rotary relay V is disconnected and the ringing relay Y is connected in its place. In the' switches zt and z thetrunk wires 29 and 30 respectively are connected to' the trunkwires 49 and 50 through the normally closed-contacts of the ringing relay Y thus completing the connection between the calling and called subscriber. In the switch a the test relay W is disconnected. The circuit of the.l relay N of the called subscriber is now closed by the following path: battery B, 4.4-, 35, 34, 3o, ys, ff, 32, Z5, 5o, Z2, as, N, to ground. This relay becoming energized. disconnects the line relay M and connects the line wires tothe contacts al and e@ respectively. The operator now depresses the cam K operating the relay S2 which now in turn closes the circuit of the ringing relay Y in the same manner as it closed. that of. the vertical and rotary magnets. The4 relay Y becoming energized disconnects the calling end of the trunk and sends current from the generator G to the wipers Z and s2 and.

from there to the station of the desired party. `When thecalled party answers he. is supplied with talking current through the'two retardation coils I and I.

At the Vend ofthe conversation the calling subscriber upon hanging up opens his line circuit denergizing the relayfS which upon breaking the contacts 81, s, opens the circuit of the relay PS. The relay P3 now opens the contacts p10 and p30 disconnecting battery from the winding of the solenoid, the plunger of which under'theinuence of the coiled spring returns to-its normal position, and the switchX again'begins to rotate. The operator-.noticing the amp s0 glowin after the calling party is ,jdi'sconnected wlthdraws the plug P from` the jack J and depresses the cams K and K simultaneously operating both' the vertical and rotaiiy relays S3 and Sa at the same time. These relays operating in this man?. ner close the circuit of the release relay W by the following path: ground, 85, 89,. 52, W,

to battery B. This relay nowin turn attracts its armaturecloses the circuitof the Instead of the operator pressing the camsV K and K at the end oi. the conversation to release the switch it can be done automatically. I have shown it in the manner illus'- trated for simplicity. A

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat' ent is:

1. In a telephone exchange system, a plu- I rality of subscribers lines, a plurality of with a supervisory signal rendered opera-l tive when the call is answered, and automatic connective switching means intermediate the calling terminals and the subscribers lines.

2. In a telephone exchange system, a plu-l rality of subscribers lines, a plurality of answering terminals'less than the total number of subscribers lines, connecting or calling terminals for the subscribers lines, an operators connective circuitadapted to connect an answering with a 'calling terminal, automatic switching means responsive to current in a calling line to connect the same with an answering terminal. a callin si al placed under control of the calling subscriber through said switching means, a supervisory signal placed Under control of said subscriber in answering a call, and automatic connective means interpolated between calling terminals and subscribers lines and arranged to be directively actuated to connect the calling terminals with the subscribers lines. a

3. In a telephone exchange system, a .plurality of subscribers lines, a plurality of answering-jacks less in number than the number of lines, a primary selector switch associated with each answering jackfand containing line-terminals, automatic controlling means for said switch responsive to a call over any of the lines having terminals in the switch, and operators connective apparatus adapted to coperate with said an- "imring jacks, to complete Athe connection of *l line calling with a line wanted, and

itching means transferri'ig the control of said selector switchto the operator upon' connection of the operators circuit with said answering jacks, substantially as deioed. y

s, telephone exchange system, a plusubscribers lines, a plurality of ig jacks less in number than the aber of lines, a plurality of connecting jacks having connection with the lines, au-

tomatic primary selector switches for con- -necting the lines to the answering jacks. operators means to connect an answering jack with a connecting jack, means to actuate said switches controlled by a line in calling, and retainingmeans independent of the said actuating means and holding the switch in actuated' positions until connection is made with an answering j ack. Y 5. In a telephone exchange system, Ia plurality of subscribers lines, a plurality of answering-jacks, a selector switch associated with each answering-jack and containing line-terminals, a controlling magnet for said switch, means to drive the switch, means con trolled by a line in calling to determine the actuation of saidmagnet and the control of the switch to connect the callingv line with an answering-jack, and retaining means for the said switch independent of the line, substantially as described.

6. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of subscribers lines terminating at a central oilice, answering terminals therefor less in'number than the number of subscribers lines, manual connective apparatus adapted to connect with said answering ter-v min'als and including an o-peratoivs set and a supervisory signal, and means controllable by a calling subscriber and normally disasscribers lines to said answering terminals, together with automatic means controlled through the said manual apparatus to effect connection between said answering terminals and called lines.

7. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of subscribers lines terminating at a central otice, answing terminals therefor less in number than the number of subscribers lines, manual connective apparatus adapted to connect with said answeringterininals land including an operators set and a supervisory signal, and means controllable by a calling subscriber and normally disasseciated from manual apparatus, lines, and operators sets to automatically connect the subscribers lines to said answering tecnifinals, together with means controlled by the operator through said manual apparatus to cause the answering terminals to be automatically connected to wanted line terminals, substantially as described.

8. Ina telephone exchange system, a plurality of line-circuits and connective means comprising means to distribute incoming calls by connecting the callinglines to varilos ous answering terminals, automatic devices:A

for connecting with wanted lines, means to switch said answering terminals manually to automaticdevice's land means whereby said automatic devices will complete the connections to the wanted lines, each of saidl line circuits having' terminals multipled in said distributing means and said automatic connective devices, substantially as described.

9. l'n a telephone exchange' system, linecircuits and connective apparatus therefor used Ain sets with interchangeable units7 the irst unit or link of each set having an antoniatic selector switch for one terminall to pick up lines calling, and an. individua-l spring jack for the other terminal, the second unit or link composed of an operators plugs and cord-conductors, and the third unit. or link composed of a trunk-line terminating at one end in a jack associated with the cperators plugs and cords, and at the other end in an automatic connector switch containing line-terminals multipled from the selector switches of the rst link, substantially as described.

l0. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of line-circuits, a primary selector switch, an individual terminal or answering- `jack, therefor, an operators cord-circuit having a sending mechanism associated therewith, a trunk jack, a trunk line leading therefrom and an automatic connector switch containing line-terminals, said primary selector being automatically operated by the subscriber in calling to connect the calling line with the answering-jack, and said automatic connector switch being controlled by the operator through her sender to complete the desired connection and said lines having multiplied terminals in each of said selector and connector switches, substantially as described.

11. ln a telephone exchange system, line circuits 1&2, relays M and N associated with each line, an automatic selector switch containing terminals, m2, x3, 05 and fue, a controlling magnet and driving-means for said switch, a spring-jack J, withan associated signal s, and a controlling relay P, an Oper- 'ators cord-circuit having terminal plugs P,

P', bridged relays S, S', a supervisory signal s", and a sender with switching means, K, K', together with a trunk jack J and an automatic connector switch Z connected thereto, containing line terminals,Y and adapted to be `controlled by the operators sender, substantially as described.

12. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of subscribers lines, connection links between said lines, one of said links consisting of a selector switch adapted to make connection with a calling line, a second link comprising an operators manual cord circuit and adapted to be connected with the automatic switchthrough a spring jack associated with the latter and a third link comprising a trunk circuit having an automatic selector switch adapted to be controlled by Ithe operator to. select and connect with a wanted line, said lines having multiplied terminals in each of said switches. l

13. In a telephone exchange system, suban automatic selector switch for selecting and connecting with a calling line, an autoscribers lines, a central oflice provided with matic connector switch for connecting with a wanted line, said lines having answering and connecting'multiples in the switches respectively, and an operators cord circuit adapted to connect said automatic-selector and connector switches through springjacks associated with the respective switches, and means included in said cord circuit to control said automatic connector switch to effect connection with the wanted line.'

In testimony `whereof I have aiiiXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT. lNitnesses E. EDMONSTON, Jr.,

JAMES H. MARR.

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